Surge suppressor for wide range of input voltages

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a wide input voltage range surge suppressor. It includes a series circuit for attachment to an upstream AC power input, and to a downstream load. There is a nonlinear low pass L-C filter having an inductor (and in some preferred embodiments, a low Q linear inductor) and a diode bridge, wherein the diode bridge includes at least one large value capacitor. There are two or three electrolytic capacitors of the nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge in preferred embodiments. There is also a two section high pass filter connected to the electrolytic capacitor. This two section high pass filter has at least two diversely rated capacitors and at least three diversely rated resistors. A voltage offset diode is connected to the two section high pass filter and at least one electronic switch is connected to the voltage offset diode, with at least one capacitor connected to the electronic switch. The electronic switch is preferably a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switch. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, wide input voltage range surge suppressor there is at least one capacitor connected to the electronic switch and it is at least one electrolytic capacitor of the nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge. In addition to the foregoing, the present invention wide input voltage range surge suppressor electronic switch includes at least one series resistor for current drive balance assurance.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages, which comprises: 
       (a) a circuit means creating a circuit for connection to an upstream AC power input, and to a downstream load, and having the following components within said circuit:  
       (b) a nonlinear low pass L-C filter having an inductor and a diode bridge in series with one another, wherein said diode bridge includes at least one electrolytic capacitor;  
       (c) a two section high pass filter connected to said at least one electrolytic capacitor;  
       (d) at least one electronic switch connected to said two section high pass filter; and  
       (e) said at least one electrolytic capacitor connected to said two section high pass filter.  
     
     
       2. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 1  which further includes a voltage offset diode connected to said two section high pass filter. 
     
     
       3. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 1  wherein said at least one electronic switch includes at least one resistor in series with said switch for current drive balance assurance. 
     
     
       4. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 1  wherein said nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge includes two electrolytic capacitors. 
     
     
       5. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 1  wherein said at least one electronic switch is a silicon controlled rectifier switch. 
     
     
       6. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 1  wherein said at least one electrolytic capacitor of said nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge has a rating within the range of about 50 microfarads to about 400 microfarads. 
     
     
       7. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 1  wherein said nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge has rectifier diodes in the range of about 3 amps, 440 volts to about 6 amps, 800 volts. 
     
     
       8. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 1  wherein said two section high pass filter includes at least one capacitor having a rating within the range of about 0.05 microfarads to about 0.5 microfarads, and a second capacitor, said second capacitor having a rating within the range of about 0.1 microfarads to about 1.0 microfarads. 
     
     
       9. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 8  wherein said two section high pass filter includes a resistor having a rating within the range of about 100 ohms to about 400 ohms, and a second resistor, said second resistor having a rating in the range of about 20 ohms to about 200 ohms. 
     
     
       10. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 8  further wherein there is a capacitor connected to said electronic switch that is separate from said capacitor of said nonlinear low pass L-C filter. 
     
     
       11. A surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages, which comprises: 
       (a) a circuit means creating a circuit for connection to an upstream AC power input, and to a downstream load, and having the following components within said circuit:  
       (b) a nonlinear low pass L-C filter having a low Q linear inductor and a diode bridge in series with one another, wherein said diode bridge includes at least one electrolytic capacitor, and said filter having means for connection to an AC power input,  
       (c) a two section high pass filter connected to said at least one electrolytic capacitor, said two section high pass filter having two diversely rated capacitors and three diversely rated resistors;  
       (d) a voltage offset diode connected to said two section high pass filter;  
       (e) at least one electronic switch connected to said voltage offset diode of said two section high pass filter; and  
       (f) at least one capacitor connected to said two section high pass filter.  
     
     
       12. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 11  wherein said at least one capacitor connected to said electronic switch is said at least one electrolytic capacitor of said nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge. 
     
     
       13. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 11  wherein said at least one electronic switch includes at least one resistor in series with said switch for current drive balance assurance. 
     
     
       14. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 11  wherein said nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge includes two electrolytic capacitors. 
     
     
       15. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 11  wherein said at least one electronic switch is a silicon controlled rectifier switch. 
     
     
       16. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 11  wherein said at least one electrolytic capacitor of said nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge has a rating within the range of about 50 microfarads to about 400 microfarads. 
     
     
       17. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 11  wherein said nonlinear low pass L-C filter diode bridge has rectifier diodes in the range of about 3 amps, 440 volts to about 6 amps, 800 volts. 
     
     
       18. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 11  wherein said two section high pass filter includes at least one capacitor having a rating within the range of about 0.05 microfarads to about 0.5 microfarads, and a second capacitor, said second capacitor having a rating within the range of about 0.1 microfarads to about 1.0 microfarads. 
     
     
       19. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 18  wherein said two section high pass filter includes a resistor having a rating within the range of about 100 ohms to about 400 ohms, and a second resistor, said second resistor having a rating in the range of about 20 ohms to about 200 ohms. 
     
     
       20. The surge suppressor for a wide range of input voltages of  claim 18  further wherein there is a capacitor connected to said electronic switch that is separate from said capacitor of said nonlinear low pass L-C filter.